RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

MODULE 1 – AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY

Lesson 3 – Oxidation Number

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify the oxidation number of atoms and molecules.

TOPIC DISCUSSION

We have learned in elementary and in high school that element is a pure substance
which cannot be broken down by chemical means, and the combination of elements is called
a compound. In the first place, why and how do elements bond together? Like how an element
can bond with another element? Is there something that can glue them together?

Consider this, if an element is stable, then it is unlike that it will find another element
to pair or bond with just to make itself stable. It does not need to receive or loss something to
make it stable. This is the characteristic of noble gases – they are the most stable unlike with
other elements. How about other elements? Are they unstable? What made them unstable?

Your knowledge in valence shell and valence

electrons are now essential. Let us use the atomic model
of Bohr. In this model, there are energy levels presented.
Each energy level has sublevel/s, and each has
corresponding number of electrons.

In energy level 1, there is 1 sublevel, let us name

it sharp or “s”. The s-sublevel has maximum number of
2 electrons.

In energy level 2, there are two sublevels, the

sharp and the principal (or simple “p”). In s-sublevel, the maximum number of electrons is 2.
On the other hand, 6 electrons are the allowed number in p-sublevel. In total, there are 8
electrons in energy level 2.

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Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

In energy level three, there are 3 sublevels namely s, p, and d (diffuse). The d-sublevel
has a maximum allowed number of 10 electrons. Thus, the maximum number of electrons in
energy level 3 is 18 electrons: 2 electrons (s-sublevel) + 6 electrons (p-sublevel) + 10 electrons
(d-sublevel). This topic is electronic configuration, which is not covered in our class.

Allowed Number Total Number of

Energy Level Sublevel
of Electrons Electrons
1 s 2 2

2 s 2 8
p 6
3 s 2 18
p 6
d 10

4 s 2 32
p 6
d 10
f 14

Let us consider Magnesium (Mg), which has 12 electrons. If you draw the formation
of Mg electrons using Bohr model, you will notice that energy levels 1 and 2 are occupied with
electrons (2 electrons + 8 electrons = 10 electrons) and the two remaining electrons are in the
energy level 3. These two electrons are called valence electrons, and the outer most shell
where these electrons reside is called valence shell. To make Mg stable, these 2 valence
electrons are most likely to be given to other elements, hence when bonding with other
element, it gives 2 electrons (Mg2+). The positive sign given means giving of electrons.

On the other side, consider Nitrogen (N) with 7 electrons. If we draw the formation of
N electrons using Bohr model, the energy level 1 is occupied – having 2 electrons, while the
remaining 5 electrons are in the energy level 2. These 5 electrons are not stable hence there is
something to do to make it stable. Remember octet rule? This is the tendency of atoms to have
eight electrons in their valence shell. There are 5 electrons in the valence shell: you have two
choices to consider, either to give 5 electrons or to receive 3 electrons to make it 8. The latter
is likely to happen than the former. So, it needs to take 3 electrons to make it stable.

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Cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig

This giving of and receiving of electrons are important. These are called oxidation
numbers or oxidation states. The oxidation number of an atom is the charge that atom would
have if the compound were composed of ions. The following are the rules in determining the
oxidation number of an atom.
1. The oxidation number of an atom is zero in a neutral substance that contains atoms of
only one element. Thus, the atoms in O2, O3, P4, S8, and aluminum metal all have an
oxidation number of 0.
2. The oxidation number of simple ions is equal to the charge on the ion. The oxidation
number of sodium in the Na+ ion is +1, for example, and the oxidation number of
chlorine in the Cl- ion is -1.
3. The oxidation number of hydrogen is +1 when it is combined with a nonmetal as in
CH4, NH3, H2O, and HCl.
4. The oxidation number of hydrogen is -1 when it is combined with a metal as in LiH,
NaH, CaH2, and LiAlH4.
5. The metals in Group IA form compounds (such as Li3N and Na2S) in which the metal
atom has an oxidation number of +1.
6. The elements in Group IIA form compounds (such as Mg 3N2 and CaCO3) in which the
metal atom has a +2 oxidation number.
7. Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2. Exceptions include molecules and
polyatomic ions that contain O-O bonds, such as O2, O3, H2O2, and the O22- ion.
8. The elements in Group VIIA often form compounds (such as AlF 3, HCl, and ZnBr2) in
which the nonmetal has a -1 oxidation number.
9. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero.

H2O: 2(+1) + (-2) = 0

10. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge on the
ion. The oxidation number of the sulfur atom in the SO42- ion must be +6, for example,
because the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in this ion must equal -2.
SO42-: (+6) + 4(-2) = -2

11. Elements toward the bottom left corner of the periodic table are more likely to have
positive oxidation numbers than those toward the upper right corner of the table.
Sulfur has a positive oxidation number in SO2, for example, because it is below oxygen
in the periodic table.

SO2: (+4) + 2(-2) = 0

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Example
Assign the oxidation number of the atoms in the following compounds
1. Al2O3 3. Cd(OH)2
2. K2Cr2O7 4. MnO4-

Solution:
Given Clue: Solution Answer
1. Al2O3 Rule 7: Oxygen has oxidation Unknown: Al Al = 3
number -2 Charge of Compound: 0 O = -2
2(Al) + 3(-2) = 0
Al = 3
2. K2Cr2O7 Rule 5: Group IA has Unknown: Cr K = +1
oxidation number +1 Charge of Compound: 0 Cr = +6
Rule 7: Oxygen has oxidation 2(+1) + 2(Cr)+ 7(-2) = 0 O = -2
number -2 Cr = 6
3. Cd(OH)2 Rule 3: Hydrogen has Unknown: Cd Cd = +2
oxidation number +1 Charge of Compound: 0 O = -2
Rule 7: Oxygen has oxidation Cd + 2(-2) + 2(+1) = 0 H = +1
number -2 Cd = 2
4. MnO4- Rule 7: Oxygen has oxidation Unknown: Mn Mn = +7
number -2 Charge of Compound: 1- O = -2
Mn + 4(-2) = -1
Mn = 7

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SCHOOL WORK

Activity M1.2 – Oxidation Number

Download the file M1.2 – Oxidation Number from e-rtu. Read the instruction carefully and
perform the indicated activity. Write your name, schedule, and the problem on a clean paper.
Show your solutions NEATLY. Box your final answer together with your signature. Final
answers that were not boxed and with no signature shall have no points. Name your file
following the format M1.2_Last Name (example, M1.2_Dalisay), save it in PDF, and
submit/upload it to e-rtu.

REFERENCE

Book:
• Brown et al. (2009). Chemistry: The Central Science (11th ed.). Glenview: Pearson
Education, Inc.

Website:
• Purdue University
https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch2/oxnumb.html#top

• Images taken from Google Image

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